Petco Announces Nationwide Store Closures, Leaving Pet Parents Stunned

With the rise of online shopping, increased supply costs, and fierce market competition, brick-and-mortar retailers are facing challenges unlike ever before. From fashion chains to major department stores, closures have become a common headline in recent years. Unfortunately, the pet retail industry is now feeling the same pressure.

In a move that has left pet parents stunned, Petco has announced it will be closing 25 underperforming locations across the United States. The news comes as a shock for many loyal customers who have long relied on the chain for everything from pet food and toys to grooming and veterinary services.

🐶 SIGN UP to get “pawsitivity” delivered right to your inbox with inspiring and entertaining stories about our furry and feathered friends 🐾🐾

Why Petco Says It's Closing Stores

According to company reports, declining revenue is the main factor behind this decision. Although Petco has tried to modernize with services such as in-store veterinary clinics, training programs, and curbside pickup, it continues to face strong competition. Rivals like PetSmart, along with online giants such as Chewy and Amazon, are capturing a larger share of the market by offering competitive prices, convenience, and fast delivery.

Industry experts also note the rising costs of the supply chain and changing consumer habits. Many pet owners now prefer to shop online for bulky items, such as food and litter, reserving in-person visits for specialty needs. For Petco, this has meant declining foot traffic and increasing pressure to cut back.

Related: This Soft Ball From Petco Is a Safer Way to Play Fetch With Small Dogs

Pet Parent Reactions

On social media, the closures have already sparked frustration and disappointment. One user commented, "When they charge $66 for a bag of bird food, no doubt. $16 at Walmart." Others expressed sadness, noting that Petco has been a community staple where families have adopted pets, attended training classes, or relied on staff for advice.

For many, the closures feel personal. Petco has long branded itself not just as a retailer but as a partner in pet parenthood, and customers are voicing concern about what this means for future accessibility to services like grooming and training.

What Petco Could Do Next

While the closures mark a challenging chapter, the future isn’t necessarily bleak. To differentiate itself, Petco could lean further into its wellness model by expanding vet care, grooming, and training services that online competitors can’t replicate. Focusing on experiential retail, where pet parents feel they’re gaining more than just products, may also help the brand carve out a niche.

At the same time, improved pricing strategies and loyalty programs could help mitigate the impact of competition. If Petco can strike a balance between affordability and its service-first approach, it may win back the trust of pet parents who still value face-to-face expertise.

Petco's announcement highlights the changing landscape of the pet industry. While fans are stunned, the retailer's next steps will determine whether it fades into the background or regains its position as a leader in pet care.

Thankfully, the brand is continuing for now, so be sure to check out the great items they have, like this mini dog treat maker or this cute cat scratcher that your feline will love.

Related: Petco Is Selling the 'Cutest' Dog Hoodie for Just $12, and It's Perfect for Fall

Read More

New CEO aims to take Ollie's to new heights

(WHTM) — For more than four decades, it has been selling good stuff cheap.

Ollie's began here in the Midstate but has expanded its footprint dramatically. Our own Dennis Owens sat down with its new CEO, who wants to take it to new heights.

Eric van der Valk, Ollie's new President, CEO and bargain boss, has gained ground in the discount market, but he has larger aspirations.

This is a very fashionable skateboard, called Kryptonics," said van der Valk. "It's very well known in the marketplace. It had financial trouble, and we bought all of their inventory, and we're able to offer $100 skateboards for $19.99.

But where does Ollie's get such good stuff so cheap?

"Our buyers have incredible acumen for sniffing out the absolute best deals out there," said van der Valk.

Some manufacturers have excess inventory, others change packaging and discard the old look, and a few, like Big Lots, go out of business. Their pain can be Ollie's gain.

We do want everybody to be successful, but as the market consolidates and as other retailers go out of business, it's certainly an opportunity for us," said van der Valk. "It leaves more product out there for us to buy that's discount-oriented, or off-price.

Ollie's is also tariff-proof," Eric said, because customers don't demand any one product that he must stock. If he gets stuff cheap, he sells it. If not, he skips it.

"Today we turned down eight or nine out of every ten deals that cross our desk," said van der Valk.

It offers good deals, but Ollie's has become a big deal. It's opening its 600th store in its 34th state at a time when other brick-and-mortar stores are getting crushed by online retailers. When asked what he sees in his customer, van der Valk had a simple answer.

We call the environment of our store semi-lovely because it's somewhat warehouse-like in nature," he said. "We don't spend a tremendous amount of money building out stores or on our real estate. We deliver great products to our consumers, and you have to have a little bit of patience with the environment and understand what it is.

While some look down their nose at the store, Eric said upper middle class is Ollie's fastest growing demographic. Eric added their prices are cheap, but their products are not.

We see Range Rovers in the parking lot," he said. "We see expensive Mercedes out there.

With sales topping $2 billion last year, Ollie's has the attention of the business community. The president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Luke Bernstein, said its success lies in knowing its mission and sticking to it.

Their earnings look pretty good, I don't think people look down their nose at earnings," said Bernstein. "Clearly, this has worked for them, and they're growing. They're growing in revenue, they're growing in jobs, they're growing their footprint across Pennsylvania, so I think every company would not look down their nose at growing jobs, growing revenue, growing stock price. They've been a great success story for Pennsylvania.

Eric is Ollie's fourth CEO. He made more than $2 million last year, which may be a bargain considering he oversees 14,000 employees, and he wants to double the number of stores. He'll enthusiastically sell more and more stuff. Just don't call it cheap.

Not cheap. Good stuff. Cheap is the price, so value is what we're offering," said Eric. "We always are fiercely committed to offering the absolute best value in the marketplace, which is not a cheap product, it's a less expensive product. It's real brands at real bargain prices.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, visit WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.

Read More